General Information
Parsnips have a long taproot that can grow up to a foot in length and roughly three inches in diameter at the crown. Growing above ground, the plant’s foliage resembles large celery leaves and stems. The tapered root varies in skin color depending on variety, from a yellow-beige to a brighter white. A Parsnip’s flesh is always a creamy white. Parsnips have smooth skin with a sweet, nutty flavor and fine-grained flesh.
History
Parsnips are native to the eastern Mediterranean region and were cultivated from the wild. The taproot pre-dated potatoes by one hundred years and was quite popular in most households throughout Europe. Colonists traveling to the New World introduced Parsnips to the Americas in 1609. Though popular during the winter in North America, Parsnips are more widely consumed in northern and Eastern Europe and western Asia.
